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New Zealand - Muriwai

Muriwai's gannet colony at Otakamiro Point is a one of the three colonies on the mainland of New Zealand, although out to sea, the colony continues on two vertical-sided islands (Oaia - where the colony first established - and Motutara). About 1.200 pairs of Australasian gannets nest here from August to March each year. The birds return from Australia to establish contact again with their lifelong mates.

The nests of the breeding colony are just centimetres apart. Each pair lays one egg and the parents take turns on the nest and strive for food by diving into the sea at up to 145 km per hour.

The chicks hatch naked, but within a week they're covered with fluffy down. As they mature, they grow juvenile feathers and begin to exercise their wings in preparation for the one-shot jump off the cliff. Once airborne, the young gannets leave the colony and cross the Tasman Sea to Australia. A few years later, surviving birds return to secure a nest site at the colony.
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76 comments

ROL/Photo said:

Magnifique scène... presque incroyable cette vue
6 years ago ( translate )

Roger Dodger said:

Interesting info and nice series capture in illustration.
6 years ago ( translate )

Jeff Farley said:

Great photography Jaap.
6 years ago

Jeff Farley said:

An excellent image Jaap, thank you for posting to Fur, Fin and Feather.
6 years ago

tatranka7 said:

Simply amazing...
6 years ago ( translate )

Dick M said:

Oh! Wow! Great find!
6 years ago

Percy Schramm said:

Great shot from a wonderful region !
6 years ago

Roger (Grisly) said:

A wonderful image and terrific pips Japp, great work and info.
6 years ago

Jeanne chevillard said:

Il y a du monde sur la plage très belles photos !!!
6 years ago ( translate )

Gudrun said:

Fabulous photos! Gannets are amazing birds, I wish we had visited Muriwai!
6 years ago

David Michael said:

fantastic shot!!
6 years ago

Rosalyn Hilborne said:

This is amazing! Such beautiful and interesting PiP's also!!
6 years ago

Nora Caracci said:

what a moltitude, well seen and captured !
6 years ago

Taormina said:

!!! .... wow
6 years ago

Ecobird said:

A lovely series of images Jaap. I especially like the pair in close up. They are attractive looking birds. I imagine it must get very noisy here!
6 years ago